Bishop’s Stortford suffered their fourth straight Pitching In Southern League, Premier Central defeat as they went down 2-1 at Needham Market on Tuesday evening (October 20).

Tyrone Baker pulled a goal back in the second half, but the Blues returned home from Suffolk empty-handed having conceded twice in the space of two first-half minutes.

Steve Smith’s men sit one place above the relegation zone with 10 points from 12 games.

They host table-topping Real Bedford on Saturday (October 24) before also entertaining bottom side Stamford on Tuesday (October 27).

Baker had Stortford’s first real chance when he cut in from the left and fired a right-footed shot over the bar.

The fifth-placed hosts took the lead in the 36th minute when Luke Ingram’s long-range strike was spilled by Calum Barnes and Kyle Hammond nodded in at the second attempt from the rebound.

And they doubled their lead in the 38th minute as Ryan Miles found the bottom corner having been found by Ingram.

After the restart, Blues defender Aaron Powell had a powerful shot saved by James Bradbrook and the rebound was put wide by substitute Aaron Greene.

Frank Norris’ volley from Jack Smith’s cross was kept out by Bradbrook before Baker missed the target from distance.

Stortford did halve the deficit 12 minutes from time as Baker slotted the ball between Bradbrook’s legs following a dribble down the right wing.

The Blues had penalty appeals waved away when Norris’ effort was deflected behind off Hammond, with the visitors claiming handball.

The away side could have levelled matters in the closing stages, but Greene was off target from the edge of the box and Brad Russell’s shot was tipped over the bar by the goalkeeper.

Blues manager Smith bolstered his squad ahead of the match by signing Scott Simmons and Gibou Njie.

Defender Simmons is a former Exeter City youngster who has also represented Welling United while midfielder Gibou Njie previously featured for Cheshunt, St Ives Town and Margate.

The former started the game while the latter came on as a 52nd-minute substitute for Tye Barton.

Needham Market: Bradbrook, Dye, Hammond, Morphew, Ingram, Saunders (Watkiss 46), Miles (Coton 88), Pearce, Lewis (Palmer 65), Hunter, Fiddy. Not used: Wright, Tennial.

Blues: Barnes, Powell, Barton (Njie 52), Thompson, Baker, Norris, Russell, Wellens (Greene 52), Smith (Colletti 64), Zlatev (Virciglio 52), Simmons. Not used: Nardelli.

Attendance: 244.